Three Peak District teenagers are to take part in a gruelling 10,000 mile bike ride through most of the countries of Europe to raise cash for charity.

Nineteen-year-old David Cook of Baslow, a former Lady Manners School student, is devoting six months of a GAP year to ride the whole route.

He will be joined on two stretches of the journey by friends Matthew Gibson (18), of Hathersage and Luke Johnson (19), of Baslow.

Matthew, a former student at Hope Valley College and Lady Manners School sixth-former, will join David on the stretch from Calais to Athens.

Luke studied at Saint Mary’s School in Chesterfield and is now an undergraduate at Imperial College, London. He will ride with David on the Turkey to Paris leg of the tour.

They will make the journey, which has taken almost two years to plan, on specially-commissioned bikes which have each cost £1500.

David Cook, Matt Gibson and Luke Johnston are taking on Europe and aiming to ride a total of 10,000 miles for 10,000 pounds to raise for 3 charities: Paralympic GB, Brake (a road awareness charity) and the Jokadu District Development Fund.

For more details visit the facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=317033345800

We are delighted to report that the KANKUDIBI HEALTH CLINIC is now OPEN !!

The clinic was "officially opened" by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Gaye, on

Saturday 7th November 2009

Progress of the construction work on the staff accommodation has been slow, as time has been spent preparing the land for cultivation, in readiness for the rains that started in late June. This has meant that the clinic will not be in use until the end of September. However the following have been completed:

I have just return from a 7 day visit to The Gambia and am very pleased to say that all is progressing well with both the Health Clinic and Bakang/Karantaba school.

1.The number of children who want to attend the Nursery class is growing by the week so has to be monitored or we may have problems at a later date.

2.The number of children now sponsored has risen to 32.I have just return from a 7 day visit to The Gambia and am very pleased to say that all is progressing well with both the Health Clinic and Bakang/Karantaba school.